In clear proof that the 2004 general elections are being fought more like an assembly poll, the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a vision document for the national capital, promising to make it the most modern capital city in the world by 2020 in terms of infrastructure. But the elements of the infrastructure it offered to develop fall within the state government's purview.
All the seven BJP Lok Sabha candidates gathered at the state party headquarters on Wednesday for the release of the Delhi Vision Document and vowed to get full statehood for the capital, special I-cards for citizens, make the New Delhi Municipal Council a body of elected public representatives, link various parts of the city through a network of rails and roads so that travelling does not take more than an hour and ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity at a reasonable price.
But the state government is responsible for power, flyovers and water.
"We want Delhi to be comparable to the most modern cities anywhere in the world, where people will get the best of facilities at reasonable prices," said Delhi BJP unit chief Harshvardhan.
The document includes plans for granting permission to add another storey to all house-owners, not levying any trade tax on non-polluting business ventures run from residential areas, easing tax systems and opening of health and fitness centres and sports complexes.
It also mentions Union Culture and Tourism Minister and the party candidate from the New Delhi constituency Jagmohan's pet project - beautification of the banks of Yamuna and developing the area as a green tourist spot.
The vision document listed 'special achievements' of the NDA government, including the country becoming the fastest growing economy of Asia, becoming a self-reliant nuclear power, gaining self-reliance in food production and becoming the only country to undertake a 15,000km long four to six-lane highway building programme.